# The Song of the Bee

- Source: McGuffey's Second Reader (second-reader.gutenberg.org), Public domain, William Holmes McGuffey, 1879, via Project Gutenberg
- Reading level: Grades 1 and 2
- Subjects: Poems, Animals
- Topics: buzz, he's, days, song, blossoms, brings
- Length: 141 words, about 1 min
- Original: <https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>
- Page: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/r/mcguffey-second/second-22-lesson-22>
- Open in Sprouts: <https://sprout.rootsofreason.org/?read=mcguffey-second/second-22-lesson-22>

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THE SONG OF THE BEE.

- Buzz! buzz! buzz!  
  This is the song of the bee.  
  His legs are of yellow;  
  A jolly, good fellow,  
  And yet a great worker is he.
- In days that are sunny  
  He's getting his honey;  
  In days that are cloudy  
  He's making his wax:  
  On pinks and on lilies,  
  And gay daffodillies,  
  And columbine blossoms,  
  He levies a tax!
- Buzz! buzz! buzz!  
  The sweet-smelling clover,  
  He, humming, hangs over;  
  The scent of the roses  
  Makes fragrant his wings:  
  He never gets lazy;  
  From thistle and daisy,  
  And weeds of the meadow,  
  Some treasure he brings.
- Buzz! buzz! buzz!  
  From morning's first light  
  Till the coming of night,  
  He's singing and toiling  
  The summer day through.  
  Oh! we may get weary,  
  And think work is dreary;  
  'Tis harder by far  
  To have nothing to do.

Marian Douglas.

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## Picture credits

- illustrator not named in this edition, Public domain (<https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/14668>)